Trends in medical student use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in an Irish university, 1973-2002.

Questionnaire surveys of medical students in an Irish university were carried out in 1973 (n=765), 1990 (n=522) and 2002 (n=537), with differentiation of western students (e.g., from the Republic of Ireland, the UK, or Australia) and non-western students (e.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in the Republic of Ireland.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains a common preventable cause of morbidity and mortality from poisoning worldwide. Common environmental sources include motor vehicle exhaust, faulty kerosene or gas heaters used in unventilated rooms, and fireplaces with blocked flues. This paper describes the epidemiology of CO poisoning in Ireland, using Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) data, Mortality data and data from the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC).

Views of Irish general practitioners on screening for cervical cancer.

Background: A national cervical screening programme is being established in Ireland and there is little information on the level of resources required.

Aims: To obtain information on attitudes of Irish general practitioners (GPs) and on the resources needed by them in relation to participation in the programme.

Methods: An anonymous postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 600 GPs, approximately 25% of the total population of GPs in Ireland.

Do symptomatic radiographers provide evidence for 'darkroom disease'?

Non-controlled studies performed in New Zealand and the UK reported a high incidence of a large number of symptoms within radiographers. The authors of these investigations proposed that these symptoms resulted from exposure to X-ray processing chemicals and the associated fumes, and collectively labelled the condition 'darkroom disease'. The absence of control groups in these investigations weakens the 'darkroom disease' hypothesis.

A pilot study of cervical screening in an inner city area--lessons for a national programme.

The objectives of this study were to examine aspects of organization of a proposed national screening programme based in general practice. The target population of women aged 25-59 years and their general practitioners (GPs), in a defined inner city area, was identified from a population register of persons eligible for free medical services; a computerized system was developed for invitations and record linkage of cytology results. Smears were examined in one laboratory and follow up of women with abnormal smears was undertaken by one gynaecologist.

An investigation of brain tumours and other malignancies in an agricultural research institute.

A historical cohort study was carried out in an agricultural research institute in the Republic of Ireland to investigate a perceived excess of cancer deaths among employees. The objectives of the study were (a) to confirm whether or not total or cause specific death rates among selected employees were higher than expected based on national figures, and to quantify any excess, and (b) to identify centres and employee grades associated with any excess risk. The cohort comprised all administrative, research, and technical staff employed for at least two years between 1960 and 1980, giving a final total for analysis of 1323 employees.

A case control study of malignant melanoma.

A case-control study of 100 cases of malignant melanoma (MM) and 100 matched controls has been completed. The male:female ratio of patients with MM was 1:2.4, which is similar to that found in other European studies and the mean age was 49.

Childhood leukaemia in Ireland.

In response to professional and public concern about health consequences, in particular cancer risk, from previous and current levels of ionising radiation in the Irish Sea, a study of incidence and mortality from acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) and other lymphoid malignancies in children was undertaken. Overall rates were similar to those found in other western populations and distribution of high rates was quite random over the country as a whole. There was a small but significant excess in incidence of ALL for the years 1974-76 in a narrow three mile wide strip along the east coast.

Hypothermia and mortality and morbidity. An epidemiological analysis.

Study Objective: The aim was to identify socioeconomic variables associated with deaths and hospital admissions due to hypothermia and to quantify the risk due to ambient outside temperature.

Design: The study was a survey of deaths and hospital admissions due to hypothermia (ICD 991.6), for the period 1979-85 inclusive, identified from death certificates and Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) data.

Risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer.

A case control study of risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was carried out on 396 patients and individually age and sex-matched controls. Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have had a rural domicile (P = 0.007), light eye colour (P = 0.

Area of residence and risk of cancer of the cervix uteri in Ireland.

A study of 85 women attending a national centre for treatment of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri (SCC) and 85 age-matched female controls attending the same centre showed no significant difference for area of residence. A previously reported excess of rural women among cases was probably an artefact of sample selection. An increased risk for women resident in urban areas described in studies elsewhere is not apparent in the women studied and demographic features of the Irish population may influence this result.

Surgical treatment of skin cancer.

Eight hundred and twenty cases of skin cancer treated surgically at Saint Luke's Hospital over a ten-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Those undergoing excision, ie simple excision and primary closure, had significantly shorter hospitalization than those requiring grafts or amputation. The only prognostic factor in this particular series identified for local recurrence was a past history of skin carcinoma.

A case-control study of head and neck cancer in the Republic of Ireland.

A retrospective case-control study of 200 patients with head and neck cancer, and 200 controls matched for age and sex, confirmed the importance of tobacco and alcohol consumption in the aetiology of malignant tumours of the upper gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tracts. A male-female ratio of 3:1 was found, and the association of smoking with laryngeal cancer and of alcohol with cancer of the tongue was particularly strong. A significant excess of alcohol-related occupations was found among the cases.